wolfteen | IC Contact

[ Alayne knows what it is like, to have one's dirty laundry aired for all to see. Though there are many things about their conversation that she does not understand, the rough hewn parts she does recognize point to only one thing: wolves. (Aboard the Tranquility, Remus had been the same way. Sirius had needed to bind him, to lock him in his room and guard the door, because of what he became on nights when he was not himself.)

Though she is not waiting for Scott to call, she answers immediately when he does.

A ring, then two, then: ] Hello?

[ His heart does a little skip when she answers.

This is so not going to go well. ]

Alayne?

Hi, it's Scott. I got your text, I just. I didn't know what to say, and I didn't want to write back and...

Did you...see what I said to Stiles?

[ He's uncomfortable — and understandably so. Hadn't Alayne been upset after last week's supposed accident? (And hadn't she been pulled from that terrible depression by the ones who'd reached out to her despite what had been said?)

Her voice is quiet and apologetic, but there is no judgment in it. ]

I did. Though found no shame in what was said— [ A pause. ] —I apologize for having looked. It was not my intention to make you uncomfortable.

[ Scott closes his eyes. Now, on top of being irritated with Stiles, he's annoyed with himself.

Why hadn't he just taken a minute to think about what he was doing? ]

You're not. It's not your fault, I was just mad at him. I wanted him to listen.

[ Which he hadn't. ]

I guess I should be glad someone did.

Did I freak you out?

I am not frightened, if that's what you're asking. [ Alayne tries very hard to make her voice sound sincere, so that there is no question where her words are spoken out of mere politeness. ] Just concerned, for it is never pleasant to quarrel amongst friends.

[ For a moment she says nothing, willing to simply leave it that. Then, before Scott can speak again: ] There is a word for it, isn't it? For what comes with the Bite you spoke of. [ Alayne knows, the word is werewolf but she refuses to speak it before Scott does. ]

[ She knows that and she still says she isn't afraid?

He's done. He's so done. He's not going to outright lie, not when someone asks. Not when they actually sound like they might be on his side.

Suddenly he has a side. Up until today he's been trying to tell everyone there are no sides. ]

Yeah, I have a lot of words I could put with it. You want me to say werewolf, though, right?

Because that's what I am. That's what my idiot of a best friend wants to be. Predator instead of prey. He has a really short memory.

[ And there it is. The word she knows and understands, a remnant from her time aboard the Tranquility. Another girl from another time and another place and there is no doubt it would fill her with dread, but for Alayne it is something familiar — and, thankfully, something she thinks she understands. ]

I had a dear friend aboard the Tranquility — the ship that I called home before the Charon. He'd been bitten much the same and had to be mindful with the rhythms of the moon. [ A pause. ] He was frightened of what he was, or— or what he could do, when the moon was upon him.

[ Another pause, longer this time. ] He would ask us to bar him behind lock and key during that time. [ Though the words may be frightening, Alayne does not sound afraid. If anything, she sounds sympathetic. Wolves loathe being caged, after all. ]

Your friend is foolish not to listen to you. But he's also afraid.

[ Weird as it might sound, that story makes Scott feel relieved. Because she called that person a friend, a dear friend even, but she still recognized that he’d been dangerous.

Which means she’ll recognize the same about Scott and that makes him feel better. Because if she’s going to know his secret, then she has to know to be careful. ]

I...can control myself on the full moon, usually. I’m fine with it, I don’t need to be locked up anymore. The first couple of times, I did.

The one that...that Stiles is afraid of, he’s new, and he hurt Stiles because he wasn’t in control. Someone else was controlling him, and then...you remember that week, when people were killing each other? Well, he’d died before, and he blamed Stiles for that, so...

[ So Jackson had hunted down Stiles and given him that scar and that’s the whole problem because that’s why Stiles wants to turn. ]

It was never really him. He always had something else in his head, but...but I don’t think that matters to Stiles anymore.

[ Alayne recalls that particular week very clearly. She had made a very terrible mess of things with a few people who were very close to her and though she is loathe to linger upon it, it has also proven a very hard incident to forget.

She makes a soft noise every so often when Scott speak, like a verbal sort of nod to acknowledge the things that he says. Once all is said: ] His fear eclipses all else, even his sense. Does he not see how such violence will repeat itself? Only it will be his claws at another innocent's throat. [ There's a frown in Alayne's voice. ]

Is there no way to appeal to him?

I tried. I was trying. [ He's moving from frustration into something calmer, though no less unhappy. ]

I said that. I said he'd become the thing that could hurt other people, the same way he got hurt. It didn't make a difference. He's too angry, I guess.

[ Alayne makes a thoughtful sound, considering now what would serve Scott best. Part of her thought to abandon all appeals to Stiles and to convince Scott of much the same, but such advice would not serve him if Stiles went through with the Bite uncontested. No doubt Scott would feel great regret were that the case, having relinquished any fight before the decisive moment in question. She considers then simply arguing on, though Alayne also knows that wolves are not served by anger. If anything, it could push Stiles farther away, only serving to make things ultimately worse.

At length, she sighs. ] Then perhaps what he needs best is to forget his anger. Or see it better placed.

[ That makes Scott frown. Redirection wouldn’t have occurred to him. ]

What do you mean, like...give him something else to be angry about?

[ Redirection is something Alayne knows a lot about. It can be cruel but it can be kind as well. Sometimes a lie can be all that separates a person from their own self-destruction. ]

Or— give a means to feel strong. Provide him an opportunity to be the rescuer rather than the rescued. If his frustrations are born out of helplessness, then combat it rather than him.

Kill the sentiment that makes him angry, and you kill the anger with it.

[ He’s quiet now. Scott generally isn’t that manipulative. In fact, Scott is never that manipulative, even when he’s secretive. Now that the suggestion’s been made, though... ]

That...wouldn’t be easy. No one knows how strong I am better than Stiles, but. You could be right. I don’t know if it’d feel right to try and set that up.

[ But if it saved Stiles from becoming a werewolf on a whim, it would be for the greater good, wouldn’t it? ]

[ The greater good — such a strange phrase to Alayne. She is not longer sure whether she believes in such things anymore; often times she thinks the idea is no better than one of her lying tales of knights and dragons. But there is another part of her — a part which is soft and secret and silly — which still clings to the hope that such things can exist (if not in Westeros, then elsewhere). ]

I've known Stiles but a few passing moments; you have known him for far longer. In the end, it will be your friendship that suffers from any sleight and so I cannot judge. Only bear advice from a distant perch.

He’s not someone I usually lie to. Or hide things from. [ But he pauses, because sometimes it’s necessary. Sometimes he has to try and keep Stiles from danger at the cost of a secret, like he’d done with his plans to hurt Gerard. ]

But I think...if it saved him from that? Then there’s nothing I wouldn’t do. I think you’re right, Alayne.

Thanks. Thanks for all of that.

[ She knows that it isn't an easy choice. Alayne had lied to Robb and to Jon, to Bran and Rickon and the girl who'd once been called Arya, during her time amongst the stars. But those lies had been a kindness, not a cruelty. Few would understand that. But, perhaps Scott would. ]

You needn't thank me, Scott. I know from experience how difficult it may be. To protect the ones we love, there is no limit to what we may do. Even if the act itself unsettles us.

It takes a certain strength, though strength is what few would call it.

[ He runs his hand through his hair. He feels unhappy, and unsettled. Like he has too much energy and needs to get it out. ]

You've done something like this, then? Lied to someone you trust for their own good?

[ Alayne hesitates. ]

Yes. And in doing so, I kept someone I loved very much from a great suffering.

I do not regret it.

[ He thinks about that.

He would do anything to protect Stiles. And Stiles, he's the closest thing Scott's ever had to a brother. ]

I'll...remember your advice.

Thanks, Alayne.

[ Again: ] As I said, you needn't thank me. But I wish you the best of luck, whatever you chose, Scott.

[ She pauses. ] Be brave and I know you'll choose rightly.

I do have to thank you. You're being really cool with me, even after everything you found out.

You're a really good person, Alayne. If that was the right decision for you, then maybe it's what I need to do too. I'm really glad you talked to me.

:)

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